Unique Reception Venue- Seating Question

laurenf24

I have found what I deem to be the "perfect" wedding reception venue for our personal style and taste.  The venue is an old 1894 historic mansion turned restaurant.  We would rent the entire mansion for the evening which would ensure our entire group full and private access to the entire house and grounds.  Here's the catch... the mansion can accomodate up to 350 guests within the THREE floors.  The first floor can seat up to 170 guests throughout multiple rooms.  If we end up having more than 170 guests, which is a great possibility, we would end up seating guests not only in different rooms throughout the house, but also different floors...

I can see pros and cons to this type of seating-  our guests would only be confined to their tables for dinner (normal, correct?) and would have free reign during the hors d'oeuvre hour and for the rest of the evening.  However, I would not want to offend those who may have to sit on the second floor or even someone in another room on the first floor. Thoughts?????

crfische

I don't think I'd want to sit on the second floor. I'd probably either cut my guestlist down to 170, or find a new place.

How many are currently on your guestlist?

baystateapple

Ditto Fische.  Nobody is going to want to be a "second floor" guest, and there will be a very obvious Siberia to your floor plan.

Cut it down to 170, or scrap the venue altogether.

LP11509

As a guest, I wouldn't like this. Even the separate rooms on the first floor only would strike me as a bit odd, honestly.  I'd find another venue. 

KatyRoseM

I wouldn't do it.  Seating in different rooms can be insulting enough but different floors?  My family wanted to use a place like this and I just said no. 

I know that sounds beautiful, and its the venue you want, but if you use it only invite however many people can be seated in one room. 

Celles

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_unique-reception-venue-seating-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ec81acaf-bfdc-4784-bc82-9187870fab09Post:3f40c6a1-07fe-465e-ad27-c4712b27ef08">Unique Reception Venue- Seating Question</a>:
[QUOTE]I have found what I deem to be the "perfect" wedding reception venue for our personal style and taste.  The venue is an old 1894 historic mansion turned restaurant.  We would rent the entire mansion for the evening which would ensure our entire group full and private access to the entire house and grounds.  Here's the catch... the mansion can accomodate up to 350 guests within the THREE floors.  The first floor can seat up to 170 guests throughout multiple rooms.  If we end up having more than 170 guests, which is a great possibility, we would end up seating guests not only in different rooms throughout the house, but also different floors... I can see pros and cons to this type of seating-  our guests would only be confined to their tables for dinner (normal, correct?) and would have free reign during the hors d'oeuvre hour and for the rest of the evening.  However, I would not want to offend those who may have to sit on the second floor or even someone in another room on the first floor. Thoughts?????
Posted by laurenf24[/QUOTE]

If I was certain I would have over 170 guests, then this would be a deal breaker for me.  What is the point of having an amazing wedding venue if I can't share the entire reception with all of my guests?  People who are seated on another floor <em>will</em> feel like second-class guests, and I wouldn't enjoy the night if I knew that to be the case.

missegg

If you have access to the grounds as well, could you have the dinner set up outside? Everyone would get to sit together and would still be able to enjoy the mansion afterwards.

mkovacik

Are you set on having a sit down dinner because a cocktail reception with heavy hors d'orves would work well in a space like this.  That way they're not assigned to a seat and can mix n'mingle around the house as they please.  The problem with doing two different floors is that the second floor will miss the toasts, etc. that happen while you're seated for dinner.  Good luck!

sarabellam

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_unique-reception-venue-seating-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ec81acaf-bfdc-4784-bc82-9187870fab09Post:3f40c6a1-07fe-465e-ad27-c4712b27ef08">Unique Reception Venue- Seating Question</a>:
[QUOTE] type of seating-  our guests would only be confined to their tables for dinner (normal, correct?) <strong>and would have free reign during the hors d'oeuvre hour</strong> and for the rest of the evening.  However, I would not want to offend those who may have to sit on the second floor or even someone in another room on the first floor. Thoughts?????
Posted by laurenf24[/QUOTE]

Are you establishing a monarchy at your reception? If not, then the phrase you are looking for is free rein, not free reign. And as a guest, I woudn't want to be "second tier" and banished to the second floor. Either limit your guestlist to the 170 that the first floor would hold, or look for another venue.

DramaGeek

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_unique-reception-venue-seating-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ec81acaf-bfdc-4784-bc82-9187870fab09Post:a70a836c-df5b-47fe-95ca-5ef969ec1317">Re: Unique Reception Venue- Seating Question</a>:
[QUOTE]Are you set on having a sit down dinner because a cocktail reception with heavy hors d'orves would work well in a space like this.  That way they're not assigned to a seat and can mix n'mingle around the house as they please.  The problem with doing two different floors is that the second floor will miss the toasts, etc. that happen while you're seated for dinner.  Good luck!
Posted by mkovacik[/QUOTE]

This.  I attended a reception with a sit down dinner and people were in different rooms.  We never saw the B&G, we couldn't hear the toasts, we didn't even know when they'd cut the cake.  Don't do it unless you're not doing a dinner.  A standing cocktail/appetizer reception, fine, then people can move around and everyone can cram in for the cake and toast, but otherwise it just doesn't work.

mica178

I'd either reduce your guest list or find another place.  I went to a wedding where there were multiple rooms, and people missed the toasts and first dance.  And the people who watched these things were so crowded since none of the big spaces could accommodate everyone comfortably.  

vixey

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_unique-reception-venue-seating-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ec81acaf-bfdc-4784-bc82-9187870fab09Post:ca326360-a8fb-4fe1-acca-889f56613dcd">Re: Unique Reception Venue- Seating Question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Unique Reception Venue- Seating Question : This.  I attended a reception with a sit down dinner and people were in different rooms.  We never saw the B&G, we couldn't hear the toasts, we didn't even know when they'd cut the cake.  Don't do it unless you're not doing a dinner.  A standing cocktail/appetizer reception, fine, then people can move around and everyone can cram in for the cake and toast, but otherwise it just doesn't work.
Posted by DramaGeek[/QUOTE]
This is exactly what I was going to say.  I think the guests on the second floor would be quite offended.  Will you have a DJ or band with dancing?  Will that all take place on the first floor?  This just seems really awkward.  Guests attend the wedding to celebrate with the bride and groom, not be quarantined off in a separate area.  I say either limit your guest list to the 170 that can be on the same floor, or find a different venue.

shoegal715

I was a second floor guest last month at a wedding.

The bride and groom had 150 people and the venue was 2 floors. 

The family and close friends aka the important people sat at the top with the bride and groom.

The loser friends (50 of us) sat on the bottom floor. We heard and saw nothing for the 3 hour dinner. If we weren't on the floor with the bar, it would have completely sucked.